Plumb rule and level.



PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

' J. MORRISON.

PLUMB RULE AND LEVEL. APF'LIGATION FILED MAR. s, 1906.

sa aries mama omen JOHN MORRISON. OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLUMB RULE AND LEVEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN MORRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plumb Rules and Levels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to plumb rules and levels, and one object is to provide an improved mercury-tube mounting which may be conveniently applied to the stock of a plumb rule and level.

A further object is to provide for so adjusting the mercury-tube that it may be used for either plumbing or leveling, also for gaging surfaces of various inclinations.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plumb rule and level, partly broken away, with my improvement applied thereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are views, enlarged, of opposite sides of a portion of the plumb and level. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the mercury-tube holder and the holder support or mounting.-

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the stock of a' plumb rule and level having the usual plumb-bob opening 8 near its lower end and cord-slots 4 at its upper end. A circular hole 5 is bored through the upper portion of the stock and a similar opening 5 in its lower portion, while near the center is a similar opening A mercury-tube and tube-mounting of like construction are arranged in each of these three openings, those in opening 5 and 5 being for use in plumbing and those in central opening 6 for leveling, as will presently apear. However, the construction is such that the mercury-tube in any one of these openings may be adjusted for either plumbing or leveling.

The mercury-tube 8 is secured within a holder 9, formed, preferably, of sheet metal, with one edge curved upon itself, as shown, to confine the tube, the holder being cut away at 9 to expose the tube to view. The lower edge of the holder 9 is preferably curved concentrically with the stock-opening in which it is secured. The tube holder or mounting consists of a base 10, curved concentrically with and fitting the circular stock-opening,

being secured by screws 11. Projecting from- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 5, 1906. Serial No. 304,256.

6, intersected by the sight-opening 7.

Patented July 17, 1906.

1 this base, preferably at its inner edge, is the l flange or rib 12, formed with curved slot 13, throughwhich pass the two securing-screws 14, threaded into apertures 15 in holder 9, the latter bearing flatly against the flange or rib, as shown, with the screw-heads engaging the opposite face thereof when clamping the holder. The edge 12 of the flange is curved or indented, as shown, so as not to obstruct the view of the mercury-tube.

In each of the stock-openings the support or mounting is preferably so secured as to intersect lines radiating vertically and horizontally' from the center of the opening, so that without changing the position of the mount ing the mercury-tube and its holder may be secured in position for plumbing, as in openings 5 and 5, or for leveling, as in opening 6, it being only necessary in changing the position to slacken the screws and turn the holder from one position to the'other. It is obvious that the holder may be secured in any intermediate position that may be required for gaging planes of various inclinations.

While the invention is designed primarily to be applied to and sold in connection with stocks having suitable openings in which the devices are mounted, it will be understood that the mountings and tube-holders may be sold separately and applied by the purchasers to stocks of their own construction.

I claim- 1. The combination of a base curved to fit and adapted to be secured within a curved stock-opening, a flange projecting from the curved baseand having a curved slot, a mercury-tube, and a tube-holder adjustably secured to the slotted flange. 2. The combination of a stock having a curved opening, a support consisting of a base curved to flt within the opening, a flange projecting from the curved base and formed with a curved slot, a mercury-tube, a tubeholder bearing against the flange, and clamping-screws carried by the holder and adjustable within said curved slot.

3. The combination of a support or mounting having a base part and a flange projecting from the base, the flange having an indented edge and a curved slot beneath the edge, a mercury-tube, a tube-holder open opposite the flange-indentation to expose the tube, and holder-securing means extending through and adjustable in the flange-slot.

4. The combination of a stock having a ICC circnlar opening, a support secured within In testimony whereof I affix my signature said opening, the support consisting of a in presence of two witnesses. curved base fitting within the opening and a rib or flange projecting from the base and JOHN MORRISON 5 provided with a curved slot, a 1nercury-tube, Witnesses:

a tube-holder, and holder-securing means eX- J. M. N ESBIT,

tening through and adjustable in the slot. ALEX. S. MABoN. 

